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Suspend MCAS 2020: Call Your Lawmakers

Dear CPS members and friends,

Thanks to all who sent letters to Massachusetts Education Commissioner Riley and other state officials calling on them to suspend MCAS testing and waive graduation requirements during this statewide health emergency.

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday, April 2, that could keep MCAS alive this year.

While your letters and emails were very effective in getting the Legislature’s attention, we believe that PHONE CALLS to your SENATOR, REPRESENTATIVE, and to the COMMISSIONER will be the MOST EFFECTIVE action we can take now.

Please take these next steps to cancel MCAS:

1. Call your legislators and ask them to cancel the test, including the use of MCAS as a graduation requirement for the Class of 2020. Go here to get your legislators’ phone numbers. You can leave a message any time, including over the weekend. Tell them what you think and ask them to call you back.

2. Call Education Commissioner Jeff Riley and ask him to publicly commit to canceling the test this year. The direct line for the commissioner's office is 781-338-3111.

SAMPLE CALL-IN SCRIPT FOR LEGISLATORS

I am [your name, address and whether you are a parent/educator/student/other]. I am calling to urge you to oppose Sections 7 and 8 of House 4616, a bill approved by the House Thursday night. These sections allow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to require districts to administer a modified MCAS test this school year.

During this global crisis, it makes no sense and could be extremely harmful to require students to take MCAS exams.

Please support legislation to cancel MCAS for this school year. I can be reached at [provide contact information]. I look forward to discussing this issue with you further.

Thank you.

SAMPLE CALL-IN SCRIPT FOR COMMISSIONER RILEY

I am [your name and address and whether you are a parent/educator/student/other]. I am calling to ask you to publicly commit to canceling the MCAS in any form this year.

As recommended in your guidance, districts should focus on providing our students with the support services and learning opportunities they need right now. During this global crisis, it makes no sense and could be extremely harmful to require students to take MCAS exams.

Thank you.

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